Musical instrument



Dec. 7, 1965 D. R. GODDARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 28, 1963INVENTOR flaw/a 4? 4000/9150.

United States Patent 3,221,443 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Daniel Ray Goddard,715 Dewey, East Liverpool, Ohio Filed Jan. 28, 1953, Ser. No. 254,832 1Claim. (Cl. 46-174) This invention relates to musical instrumentsgenerally. More particularly, it relates to musical instrument toys.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a musicalinstrument toy which will produce water sounds, the sound of a stringinstrument and rhythmic drum sounds.

Other objects of this invention are the provision of a toy instrumentwhich may be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate and safe touse.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a musicalinstrument toy having an elastic container enclosing a hollow chamberand having a narrow constricted nozzle with an opening in the nozzlecommunicating with the hollow chamber of the elastic container.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an elastic Waterfilled toy having a cup closure.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of corrugationsor bulges in the outer configuration of said toy to simulate thecorrugations in a wash board.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andspecifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, references will be had to theaccompanying drawing where like character numerals denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in Which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing the embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a section through the thimble.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view on line 44 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and more particularly to FIGURE1, the reference numeral repre sents a musical instrument toy accordingto the present invention wherein there is a narrow arcuate neck portion11, a generally straight, longitudinal wider fiatmiddle section 12adjacent thereto and a substantially round, flat lower section 13adjacent middle section 12. Neck section 11 has a reduced portion 14 atone end to form a nozzle 15 having opening 16 therein which normally isclosed by thimble 17. The neck has a portion 18 at its opposite endwhich is provided with several transverse, parallel ridges 19, thelatter being so formed as to protrude slightly above the surface 20 ofthe neck portion. A ring-shaped extension 21 protrudes outwardly in alateral direction adjacent portion 18, ring-shaped extension 21 servingas a handle when the toy is held in the hand.

Adjacent the portion 18 the middle section 12 is provided with aplurality of longitudinally extending ridges 22 which extend over amajor portion of the section 12 and which are positioned equally spacedapart and parallel 3,221,443 Patented Dec. 7, 1955 to each other.Directly adjacent one end of ridges 22 the device is provided with anumber of transversely extending ridges 24. Ridges 24 are at thelongitudinal end of section 12 which is adjacent section 15. Section 13has a plurality of islands 27 extending beyond the flat surface 26 forfrictionally aiding in the grasp of the section between the fingers ofthe user. As shown at 25, the portion of the section 13 which isadjacent section 12 is generally narrowed.

FIGURE 2 shows the thimble 17 formed to have a hollow cup-shapeddepression 17a, a pointed end 17b and a small opening leading from theoutside surface of the thimble into the cup-shaped depression 17a. It isunderstood that the toy may be formed of elastic material, such asrubber or plastic and may be shaped to resemble a string instrument,drum or the like. The toy maybe produced in any solid color, or in anycolor combination pleasing to the eye, and it may be formed in variousconvenient sizes. Minor changes in shape, size, materials andrearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long asno departure is made from the invention as claimed.

I claim:

In a musical instrument toy the combination of an elastic container,said container including an upper arcuate-shaped neck portion, alongitudinal, generally straight middle section adjacent one end of saidneck portion and a lower flat section adjacent the opposite end of saidmiddle section, said arcuate portion and said middle section enclosing ahollow chamber, the upper terminal end of said arcuate neck portionhaving an opening communicating with said chamber, a thimblefrictionally secured to said terminal end of said neck portion andclosing said opening, said thimble comprising a cylindrical sleevehaving a hemispherical portion at one end, a relatively small openingthrough said hemispherical portion and said neck portion having aplurality of transversely extending raised ridges on its outer side,said middle section having a plurality of longitudinally extending,parallel, equally spaced apart ridges extending outwardly on its outerside, said fiat lower section being of generally circular configurationand having a plurality of islands extending beyond the flat surface ofsaid flat lower section to provide grasping means between the fingers ofthe operator, the upper portion of said lower section being of generallynarrowed configuration, a pair of transversely extending, raised ridgesadjacent the lower ends of said longitudinally extending ridges of saidmiddle section and a ring-shaped extension extending in a lateraldirection between said neck portion and said middle section.

References Cited by the Examiner DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.RICHARD C. PINKI-IAM, Examiner.

